Carlisle man died after prolonged attack by cows in Northumberland field
Malcolm Flynn died after the attack by the animals near Hadrian's Wall in 2020
Last updated 24th Mar 2025
An inquest in Morpeth has been hearing how a retired teacher was killed in a prolonged attack by cows - while he was on a walk along Hadrian's Wall in 2020.
Grandfather, 72 year old Malcolm Flynn, from Carlisle, was charged at by the cattle in a field at Thirlwall Castle Farm Northumberland - and kicked in the head while he lay injured .
His fellow walker - Christopher Barkless - had been forced to climb a tree to escape the cattle and calves who were charging the pair, where he was able to call 999.
Mr Barkless has been giving evidence at the hearing today.
It happened in a field at Thirlwall Castle Farm near Gilsland, close to the Cumbria and Northumberland border, on September 11 2020.
Assistant Coroner Kirsten Mercer told inquest jurors how there was a sign warning walkers about the cows and calves in the field and how they could be "unpredictable".
Mr Flynn, a father-of-two, was a member of the Ramblers' Association and regularly walked with his friend Mr Barkless, and they were completing the Hadrian's Wall route in sections.
The former chemistry teacher, who had been a manager with Northumbrian Water until he changed career in his 50s, had developed glaucoma which affected his eyesight and was troubled by arthritic pain in his foot.
Mr Barkless said they had set off from Gilsland that morning and after entering a field, he noticed four cows and their calves blocking the path, so he changed course.
He told the inquest: "I was not comfortable with that situation, they were not behaving in a manner that I would expect."
He clarified, saying: "If you look in a cow's eyes it will normally look away, it won't stare you out.
"If it looks away, it will normally disperse.
"These cows were different.
"They didn't demonstrate any intention of being fazed by the presence of two human beings, in fact they came forward to confront us."
Mr Barkless said he told his friend he was changing course and turned his back only to hear a "tumultuous motion" as the cattle moved quickly towards Mr Flynn and he started to run away.
The witness said a cow shoulder charged the pensioner, knocking him to the ground, then flipped him up in the air.
He lay injured on the ground and every time he moved after that, a cow would trample him, Mr Barkless said.
He rang 999 from a hawthorn tree and worried if he tried to help his stricken friend, the cows would charge over Mr Flynn again.
When Mr Flynn made a final attempt to get up, a cow kicked him in the face, Mr Barkless said.
It was only when the air ambulance flew over, some 30 minutes after the first attack, that the cows dispersed in fright, Mr Barkless said, allowing him and other walkers in the area to try to help.
The medics on the air ambulance could not save him and he died at the scene.
Mr Flynn's elder daughter Julia Proud wrote a pen portrait which said her father loved walking and the countryside.
She said: "The tragedy that happened is a bitter pill to swallow as it is something he had done so many times before and enjoyed."
The coroner were told that one of the issue that they will consider during the five-day inquest was a previous incident involving cows at the farm almost exactly a year before, where two walkers were injured.
The inquest continues.
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